Just six months after being rescued from receivers, window company Dale Joinery (Lichfield) is seeking to set new industry standards for delivery lead times.
Stringent criteria have been put in place by Richard Fawcett and his associate Paul Phillips who bought the company from receivers in March.
First on their list of priorities was investment in new order processing systems which are already paying dividends.
Mr Fawcett said: “The first six months have been tremendous and we’re well on track to achieve a rate of £5m in sales by the end of the first year.
“We’re tackling the problem of slow order lead times head on and our established teams now have the tools to realise their full potential.”
Mr Fawcett claims the company’s order to delivery times are now among the shortest and most reliable in the business and that, he said, keeps everyone happy.
Among the satisfied customers is Terry Hurley, senior buyer for Staffordshire-based house builder and developer Cameron Homes. He said: “Feedback and competitive prices from quotation stage right up to product quality, lead time and the general service they offer has proved our faith and confidence in standing by Dale even when receivership threatened.”
Understanding the building industry and “people continuity” are critical factors for David Clement, timber sales co-ordinator at Luton-based Gibbs and Dandy.
“Having a good product is not always enough, it saves so much time and hassle if the people you deal with actually understand where you’re coming from. At Dale they do, and they hit the order time which is not often the case in the joinery business.”
